Kopel shuts down Bynoe

Talk about dysfunction.

The five new and 14 returning Nassau legislators met to conduct business for the first time since the November election and it was a near chaos.

Legislators ranted, interrupted each other or declared untruths to be true.

Howard Kopel

It got so bad that the legislature's new presiding officer Howard Kopel, a Lawrence Republican who had served as deputy presiding officer for years, turned off the microphone of Legis. Siela Bynoe, a Westbury Democrat.

Both are veteran lawmakers. Kopel happens to be white; Bynoe is black. But there is no indication that race played a factor.

Siela Byone

The fight was about $15 million being set aside for contractual services out of some $385 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to Nassau in 2021. Some $86 million has been spent and $118 million appropriated, leaving $262 million be spent by the end of next year.

Democrats said they wanted the $15 million increased to $19 million and then $1 million allocated to each legislator to be spent in their district at their discretion. They made it sound like the funds were free money, rather than funds subject to U.S. Treasury department guidelines.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that we can hand out to groups in our district," said new minority leader Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, a Glen Cove Democrat.

But Legis. John Ferretti, a Levittown Republican, said federal guidelines restrict how ARPA money is spent. They cannot be used, he said, for recurring salaries.

Bynoe immediately interrupted and said he was attacking her because she had mentioned earlier that many social service workers are underpaid.

"You are taking something out of context," Bynoe said loudly. "You are spinning it, John."

Kopel tried to gavel her down. "You will have a clear chance to respond," he told Bynoe.

She kept talking. Bynoe said that Ferretti was making a point of attacking her (though he never mentioned her name) He just talked about recurring salaries not being eligible for ARPA funds.

Kopel told Bynoe: "You have to learn decorum."

Bynoe exploded. "Don't tell me I have to learn decorum. I have been on this body for years," she retorted.

As she continued to complain, Kopel turned off her microphone.

"Legislator Ferretti has the floor. He is talking," Kopel said. "When you’re talking I will request that he and nobody else interrupt you."

Bynoe continued but her words could not be heard without a microphone.

Ferretti said to her, "You are not the only legislator who brought up that point (about underpaid social workers). I am responding to everybody who brought up that point."

"Bringing it up in the ARPA hearing, in my opinion, is misleading," he said.

When Ferretti finished, Kopel recognized Bynoe to respond.

"Presiding Officer, I took offense to your comment that I need to learn decorum," Bynoe said.

Kopel said he was not directing the comment to "one person. I was talking to the entire legislature."

Bynoe then apologized to Ferretti for "speaking over you." 

Bynoe usually is quite measured and calm, though quite firm in her questioning and comments. She blamed her explosion yesterday on her "passion" for the need to provide sufficient funding and resources for those who care for the poor, those with special needs, the homeless and children.

"We have to give the people what they need to do the work for our residents, for our neighbors...for our friends," she said.

Here is a summary of ARPA spending guidelines: